Nonslip attachment for shoe heels



Jul 5, 1932.

G.ANTZ

NONSLIP ATTACHMENT FOR SHOEHEELS Filed Nov. 25, 1930 INVENTOR BY georye Ruiz,

ATTORNEYS WlTNESSES Patented July 5, 1932 res insane GEORGE ANTZ, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK NONSLIP ATTACf-IMEHT FOB SHOE HEELS Application filed November 25, 1930. Serial No. 498,134.

This invention relates generally to the class of footwear attachments, and has more particular reference to adevice attachable to the heels of boots, shoes or the like, which primarily serves as a means for preventing slipping or skidding when the wearer thereof is walking over a wet, icy or other slippery surface, and which further functions as a medium for obtaining a better traction upon said surfaces.

More specifically, the invention resides in the provision of a device of the character set forth, which includes aflexible band-like element for embracingly engaging and snugly fitting around the heel of a'boot or shoe, and which carries surface engaging means for preventing slippage and offering traction.

The invention further resides in the provision of means for relea sably clamping the device in applied position which also cooperates with the band-like element to afford means of adjustment, whereby the device may compensate for variation in the size of the heel to which it is applied.

Some of the principal objects in view are to provide a device of the indicated character which may be readily applied to or removed from the heel: which when applied is effectually retained against accidental displacement; which does not unduly detract from the appearance of the boot or shoe; which does not materially mar the surfaces of the heel; and which will not scratch'or mar a floor or floor covering if the device is worn indoors.

Other obiects of the invention reside in the provision of a device of the character set forth which employs few and simple parts,which may be inexpensively produced and assembled and which provides a device which is highly efficient in its purpose.

With the above recited and other objects in view, reference is had to the following de- 'scription and accompanying drawing, in

which there is exhibited one example or embodiment of the invention, while the claims define the actual scope of the same.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a perspective View of the device in its applied position on the heel of a boot or shoe.

Figure 2 is a horizontal sectional plan View of the device in its applied position.

Figure 3 is a front view, illustratlng in 55 full and dotted lines the active and inactive position of the clamp means.

Referring to the drawing by characters of reference, 5 and 6 designate a pair of strips of thin flexible material, preferably sheet 50 metal, which in practice are made of a width slightly less than the height of the heel A of a boot or shoe, and one end of each of which strips are joined to each other in any suitablemanner, such as by a rivet 7, so as 65 to impart thereto the desired flare which is 'commonin the heel ofa boot or shoe. The strip sections 5 and 6 are generally shaped longitudinally to conform to the side and rear Walls B, C and D of the shoe, while the 3 remaining ends 7 and 8 of the sections 5 and 6 are directed inwardly toward each other for disposition over the breast E of the heel, and saidends have the remaining terminals 9 and 10 doubled upon themselves and disaround the periphery or outer surface of the N heel A. in the manner illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 of the drawing. In order to provide means for clamping the element F to the heel against accidental displacement therefrom, a clamping means designated generally by said clamping means consists of a lever 14:

which maybe fulcrumed atone end by the rivet 12 to the strip end 8 for swinging movement from the full line position to the dotthe reference character G is employed, and no ted line position indicated in Figure 3. The

lever 14 has pivoted thereto as at 15, intermediate its ends, a link 16, the free terminal of which is directly rearwardly at an angle thereto to provide a finger 17 which is designed to be selectively engaged in one'of 109 heel A of the boot or shoe.

a plurality of azertures 18 formed in the end 7 and its doubled terminal 9. The end 8 is further provided with a forwardly projecting stop pin or projection 19 which is disposed in the path of movement of the lever 14 when the same is swung upwardly and serves to arrest further upward movement of the lever when the pivotal point 15 of the link passes beyond the fulcrum point 12 of the lever to lock said lever by what is known as a past center action. Obviously, when the lever 14 is swung downwardly from the full line position to the dotted line position. illustrated in Figure 3, the ends 7 and 8 are capable of relative separation or movement away from each other, to release the element F from its embracing engagement with the In order to further assist in the retention of the element F on the heel A, the strips 5 and 6 may be provided with inwardly projecting spurs 20 which slightly bite into and anchor the band element F in place.

The non-slip and traction means designated generally by the reference character H may be variously constructed, but as illustrated, said means consists of a transverse linked element or chain section 21, the opposite end links 22 of which are secured within apertures 23 formed adjacent the forward portions of the strips 5 and 6 adjacent their juncture with the ends 7 and 8. Additional linked elements or chain sections 24 are secured to the element or chain section 21 and radiate therefrom with their end links 25 engaged through apertures 26 which are spaced circumferentially at points in the sections 5 and 6 adjacent the rear wall D of the heel A. 7

While there has been illustrated and described a single and preferred embodiment of the invention, it is to be clearly understood that no limitationis necessarily made to the precise structural details, as it is to be understood that variations and modifications which properly fall within the scope of the appended claims may be resorted to when desired. 7

What is claimed is:

1. In a device of the character described, a band element comprising two sections pivotally connected with each other at one end on a horizontal axis to permit relative vertical swinging movement of the sections whereby said band may be adjusted to compensate for variations in the types of heels and to intimately engage with the marginal walls of shoe heels of either the straight or flared types, and inwardly directed terminals at the free ends bent upon themselves to define fiatly'contacting plies for increasing the rigidity band-like element comprising two sections pivotally connected with each other at one end on a horizontal axis to permit relative swinging movement whereby the said band may be adjusted to compensate for variations in the types of heels and to intimately engage with the marginal walls of shoe heels of either 'strai 'ht or flared types, and inwardly directed terminals at the free ends bent upon themselves to define flatly contacting plies for increasing the rigidity of said terminals, said free ends of said strips being adapted to overlie the breast of the heel, nonslip traction means carried by said element, and means for contracting said element about said heel, said latter means consisting of a lever fulcrumed on one of the free ends of the element and a link pivotally carried at its opposite end by said lever on the remaining free end of said element, and a stop on the other end of the element to which the lever is fixed for limiting the swinging movement of the lever in a direction to contract said element.

Signed at borough of Brooklyn, in the county of Kings, city and State of New York, this twentieth day of November,

GEORGE ANTZ.

of the terminals, and means carried by said terminals for said element around the heel.

2. In a device of the character set forth, a

contracting 

